Beijing, Dec 14, SPA -- China and Russia will hold their first joint military exercise next year, the Chinese government has announced, and President Hu Jintao is calling for further expansion of the rapidly growing alliance between the former Cold War rivals. The announcement came during a visit this week to Beijing by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, who was expected to discuss expanding Russia's multibillion-dollar annual arms sales to China. The exercises were to take place on Chinese territory, the official China News Service (CNS) said Monday. But that report and other government statements did not say when they would take place or what forces would be involved. "We want ... to promote the development of the two countries' strategic collaborative relationship in order to safeguard and promote regional and world peace," CNS quoted Hu as telling Ivanov. China's Xinhua News Agency quoted Ivanov and his Chinese counterpart, Cao Gangchuan, as saying the military exercises would be an "important event, the significance and impact of which will be far-reaching."--SPA1147 Local Time 0847 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/224776